Delmar Wetjen

Delmar Wetjen
March 18, 1921 - November 04, 2004
Williamsburg, Iowa
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. November 10, 2004 at St. Mary's Catholic Church
Delmar Fred Louis Wetjen, 83, Williamsburg, died Thursday, Nov. 3, at Marengo Memorial Hospital, Marengo, following an extended illness. His family was at his side. Services, with military rites, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Williamsburg. Rev. Dave O'Connor will officiate the service. Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Uhlmann-Powell Funeral Home, Williamsburg. Online condolences may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com, under obituaries. Delmar Fred Louis Wetjen was born March 18, 1921, in the family home east of Williamsburg, the son of Albert and Emma Sandersfeld Wetjen. He attended school at Immanuel Lutheran. He met Agnes Walsh Wetjen, Parnell, in 1938. They were married Feb. 10, 1942 at St. Joseph's Church, Parnell. He was called into the army in 1943 and completed basic training as a surgical technician in the medics. He felt in order to better serve his country, he volunteered for the infantry and fought with the Third Army, 347th Infantry, 87th Acorn Division, Company K under General Patton. Delmar was a rifleman sharpshooter and fought in several Rhineland, Ardennes and Central European battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Bastogne, Battle of Bonarue and Battle of the Rhine River Valley. He was promoted to platoon sergeant, supervising 38 riflemen, leading men in combat operations and training men for replacements. Having grown up speaking German in his home, Delmar worked with the intelligence section while fighting in Germany, crossing enemy lines at night to talk with German troops, urging them to surrender. He received the Bronze Star medal for the capturing of these German soldiers. His company was also instrumental in discovering and liberating the concentration camp in Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Nazi concentration camp in Buchenwald, Germany. Delmar received the Combat Infantry Badge with Silver Wreath, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, three battle stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He received a Purple Heart medal for freezing his feet while marching in the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorable discharged Oct. 24, 1945, and returned home to resume life with his wife and young daughter, Carolyn. Through Agnes saving money and Delmar sending it home during the war, the couple was able to buy a farm west of Conroy. Delmar was a true steward of the land. He was one of the first farmers in the area to follow conservation practices, building terraces, laying tile, planting grass buffer strips and contouring the hills he farmed. He did it not because he was suppose to, but because it was the right thing to do. He wanted to preserve for future generations the land he farmed. He taught his sons the importance of leaving back a few rows of crops for the wildlife each fall and he taught them to respect and give back to the wildlife and habitat they hunted and harvested from. Both Delmar and his wife were active in the community. Delmar was elected as Iowa County Supervisor, Hilton Township Trustee and Conroy school board member. He was a Knights of Columbus fourth degree knight and a long-time director at St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was a 4-H leader for many years and an honorary 4-H member. He was instrumental in founding the Iowa County Cattlemen and was active in the Farm Bureau and ASC organizations. For the last 20 years, he volunteered regularly at the Iowa County NRCS office, assisting the field specialists and office staff with conservation projects. He sincerely enjoyed his volunteer opportunity at the NRCS office and considered the staff there his family. His extended family also included the many friends he made as a lifetime member of the Williamsburg VFW Post 8797, where he was also post commander. A quiet veteran, he overcame the many nightmares he experienced from the war through the close friendships he formed with fellow veterans. They were his counselors, his confidants and his best friends. Delmar will always be known for his pragmatic leadership and his self-discipline in analyzing all sides before making a decision. His wisdom and insight was greatly respected and often sought, and it was not unusual to find senators and state officials visiting him to discuss policies and legislation. Most of all, he was humble and a true Christian. He strived to see the best in people and the good in a difficult situation. He gave much to many and he did it anonymously. Family always came first for Delmar and his one great love in his life was his wife of 62 years, Agnes. Their love and devotion for each other never waivered - not through the war, or the farm crisis or even when Agnes entered the advances stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Delmar cared for her for many years until it became too much for him to care for Agnes in her condition. It truly broke his heart when she was moved to a nursing home and it became only the second time in their lives, after World War II, when they were apart. Until he was physically incapable of making the drive these last months, Delmar visited Agnes at the nursing home every day, at least twice a day. He was so punctual in his commitment to her, you could set your watch by his visits. Even in his last days, enduring great pain, he worried about Agnes more. His stoicism, integrity, honor and sense of duty will always remain his family's inspiration. And his selfless spirit is only something we can strive to achieve. He will be greatly missed, but he is now in a better place, without pain and suffering, without worry. Where he deserves to be. Delmar is survived by his wife, Agnes, Williamsburg Care Center; two sons, Larry and wife Wanda Wetjen, Marengo, and Ron and wife Sheila Wetjen, Dubuque; one daughter Carolyn and her husband Tom Schwarte, Granger, Ind.; 11 grandchildren Dave and wife Deb Schwarte, South Bend, Ind.; Lisa and husband Chris Runge, Washington, D.C.; Matt Schwarte, Granger, Ind.; Nick and wife Erin Wetjen, Washington, D.C.; Mark and wife Nicole Wetjen, Reno, Nev.; Sean Wetjen, Washington, D.C.; Melissa Wetjen and Amanda Wetjen, Ca.; Callie Wetjen and Rebecca Wetjen, Marengo, Rachael Wetjen, Ames, and fiancé Kurt Braun, Muscatine; two great-grandchildren Coley and Owen Runge, Washington, D.C.; one sister, Shirley McMenomy, Williamsburg; three brothers Eldon and wife Pauline Wetjen, Adrian and wife Fern Wetjen, both Williamsburg; and Millen and wife Nina Wetjen, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Emma Wetjen, two brothers, Harlan and Richard and one brother-in-law, Dean McMenomy.